The...cat

[ParrotLover2001]

I said I'll talk about her in another post, so here it is.

Samantha is the family pet. She has a very bad reputation everywhere. She picks on Orion (dog) and uses everything as a scratching post. She has a scratching post, but she'd rather use everything else as one. She kicks litter out of her box, and eats everything. She eats Orion's food! When Orion is sleeping, Samantha would run over to him, sniff him, then she'll attack him.
I'd send her back to shelter, but we can't. She was my grandfather's cat before he passed away back in December. Therefore my mother inherited the cat, and now we have her. She is a black cat (she has proved that she is bad luck) and she isn't declawed. No vet in my whole state will declaw a cat anymore (and I can understand that). She will BEG for food, and she will steal your food if she gets a chance.
She also runs around like crazy every single morning.
I'm not sure what breed of cat she is. I haven't looked at her adoption papers. Her original name was Savannah, now it's Samantha.

No more fur babies, no more fids. No more animals.




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[Flboy]

What breed? Bird killer! There is one of those living here!

 

[texsize]

I use to have the attitude that de-clawing a cat is cruel. I still feel that way for the most part.
I had a Persian cat for 1 week (given to us on a trial basis, a trial that was a complete FAIL) and if that cat had not been de-clawed both my wife and I would have been ripped to shreds.
So while I am against de-clawing of a cat I do understand there are special circumstances that can make it necessary.

Same for birds and wing clipping. I am against clipping a birds wings but sometimes it's best for the parront and the bird.
None of my birds are clipped and I hope I can keep it that way.
texsize

 

[Owlet]

I really don't believe any circumstance calls for de-clawing of a cat unless there's some infection and they need to be amputated. But in that situation it's unlikely that all their claws would have to be cut. Declawing is essentially cutting off their fingertips and it leads to many problems later in life such as arthritis. It also causes pretty much constant pain throughout their life and much more frustration for their owners due to pain leading to anger and then they sometimes stop using the litter box because the litter hurts their feet. Texsize I understand where you're coming from and I understand why it had to be done at that time since I'm assuming it was some years ago but I'd just find an alternative in the future. Fortunately with increasing knowledge on animal behaviour and anatomy lots of solutions and alternatives are coming about for declawing a cat such as rubber covers that can be put on the cats claws. I'd believe it's significantly cheaper since it cuts out the surgery to declaw and any future medical bills for arthritis and such. Of course you'd need to get them replaced every now and again but I still believe it's a much better solution for everyone in the long run.

 

[itzjbean]

Try nail caps! They're little plastic-y caps that fit over the cat's claw, and stays on for a couple weeks. Here's the site, Soft Paws!

My husband's mom and dad are in a similar situation. My husband's great grandma (his mom's grandma) adopted a little black Poodle named Romeo and then a couple years later got moved into a nursing home, and his mom and dad inherited the dog. It's a mean little s**t. Food aggressive, will bite if you go near it's bed/territory, always has some sort of skin infection and smells awful, will attack our 92lb very submissive Doberman Pinscher when he gets too close to him, just a dog no one wants around, lol. BUt his mom feels inclined to keep him because it was her grandma's dog, even though no one likes him and he makes life hell for them, lol..

 

[texsize]

I really don't believe any circumstance calls for de-clawing of a cat unless there's some infection and they need to be amputated. But in that situation it's unlikely that all their claws would have to be cut. Declawing is essentially cutting off their fingertips and it leads to many problems later in life such as arthritis. It also causes pretty much constant pain throughout their life and much more frustration for their owners due to pain leading to anger and then they sometimes stop using the litter box because the litter hurts their feet. Texsize I understand where you're coming from and I understand why it had to be done at that time since I'm assuming it was some years ago but I'd just find an alternative in the future. Fortunately with increasing knowledge on animal behaviour and anatomy lots of solutions and alternatives are coming about for declawing a cat such as rubber covers that can be put on the cats claws. I'd believe it's significantly cheaper since it cuts out the surgery to declaw and any future medical bills for arthritis and such. Of course you'd need to get them replaced every now and again but I still believe it's a much better solution for everyone in the long run.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.
The cat in question had been given to me already de-clawed. It was not me that did that.
But you do bring up a good point that I had forgotten.
The removal of the claws does indeed cause medical problems down the road.
It removes some of the structural support of the foot and I am sure it makes it painful for the kitty when it jumps down from a higher elevation.

The thing I don't understand about the nail caps is this. A dogs nails are always extended they don't retract like a cat's front feet. I have even seen different colored nail caps (for dogs) for decoration and to protect flooring in the house.
So how does a nail cover work when the cat has the nails retracted? Would that not cause a different set of problems?
Just idle curiosity.

 

[Owlet]

I'm honestly not sure, I was thinking about that last night and I'll have to look into it. I was thinking that maybe the cover is still thin enough that they can retract without any problem but I'm not sure.

 

[RavensGryf]

I'm honestly not sure, I was thinking about that last night and I'll have to look into it. I was thinking that maybe the cover is still thin enough that they can retract without any problem but I'm not sure.

Years ago I worked at a vet's office, and had experience putting the Soft Paws caps on cats. It's a drop of super glue inside, then slipped on the nail. Hold it firm for a few seconds until they're stuck on. They're not thin enough to be able to retract. I guess they get used to them? Google images of Soft Paws for cats, and you can see them. Nowdays they come in colors.
Edit: I see Jackie has the Soft Paws website linked above .

 

[Lacewing]

If a person cuts the cats nails routinely and gives the cat plenty of surfaces they like to scratch on one should not need to do the dirty deed of removing the claws surgically. I have owned several cats, all rescues, and never once had a problem.

 

[ParrotLover2001]

If a person cuts the cats nails routinely and gives the cat plenty of surfaces they like to scratch on one should not need to do the dirty deed of removing the claws surgically. I have owned several cats, all rescues, and never once had a problem.

I have a cat nail clipper, but I'm not willing to trim her nails. I've only had experience with bird nails. And I'm afraid to do it.

Also, like the people who have replied, I'm against declawing. Ever since I heard about it being like cutting your fingers at the first knuckle on YouTube. Horrible.


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[SilverSage]

Trimming a cats nails is much easier than a birds since the quick is so easy to see. Trimming the nails on a cat is a MUST if they live with birds.


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[ToMang07]

5 cats in my house. All different breeds. 2 black ones. All different personalities, and not a one bothers the bird. One does bully the 2 dogs tho.